Convert Foot (ft) to Chain (ch) instantly.
About these units
Foot (ft)
A foot, equal to 12 inches, has been used for thousands of years and likely originated from the length of a human foot. Though early definitions varied, the modern standard foot—established internationally in 1959—provides a stable and consistent reference. The foot remains the foundation of architectural and construction measurements in the United States, influencing everything from lumber dimensions to ceiling heights and room layouts. Because the foot is intuitively relatable to human scale, people often estimate heights, furniture sizes, and walking distances in feet. In aviation, altitude is universally measured in feet worldwide, even in countries that otherwise use metric units—an unusual but deeply embedded global convention. The foot's persistence shows how cultural inertia can remain strong even when a unit predates modern scientific measurement.
Chain (ch)
A chain is equal to 66 feet or 4 rods, and it was standardized by surveyor Edmund Gunter in the 17th century. "Gunter's chain," consisting of 100 metal links, became the backbone of land surveying in the English-speaking world for centuries. Its convenience stems from simple arithmetic: 10 square chains make an acre, making land area calculations straightforward. Railroads, farmland, and city parcels across the United States and the Commonwealth nations were once laid out using chains, so the unit appears in countless historical records. Even today, some legal property descriptions still reference chain-based measurements, making the unit relevant for modern surveyors who interpret old maps. Although high-precision digital equipment has replaced physical chains, the unit's structural role in land division ensures its lasting importance.